Patients were tested to see how quickly they metabolized alcohol as well as various cholesterol tests. Researchers measured glucose control, blood pressure, liver function tests, medication use and closely monitored other symptoms during the two years.
Patients in the red wine group had improvements in their cholesterol tests, compared to those that just drank water. The researchers found that red wine was found to be superior in improving overall metabolic profiles, modestly improving the lipid profile by increasing good HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1, one of the major constituents of HDL cholesterol. In addition, it decreased the ratio between total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol. The study also found that both red and white wine drinkers slept better, compared to those that were drinking water. The results showed lower blood sugar and a decreased development of heart disease.
Researchers recommend one to two glasses of red wine for men and up to one glass of red wine for women daily. The antioxidants in red wine called polyphenols help protect the lining of blood vessels in the heart. The resveratrol works together with the ethanol found in red wine, which results in positive changes.
Doctors worry about those patients with type 2 diabetes that drink too much, which might get them thinking that drinking is good for diabetes, which is not. This research comes in handy for those people with type 2 diabetes that are moderate drinkers or social drinkers. If you have to choose something to drink, go for the red wine instead of beer or hard liquor.